Madison County Bar supports community

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To celebrate his 50th year of practicing law – 10 years ago – Anderson attorney Charles H. Dickmann set up a fund of $100,000. Each year since then, the interest the fund has collected over a year goes to a member of the community for their community service. The winner can then choose which organizations that donation will go to.

That award, the Madison County Bar Association’s Community Service Award, was given to retired Anderson University administrator Duane Hoak on Oct. 19.

Hoak received $5,240 to give to the charity of his choice. He gave $2,000 of it to the United Way youth mentoring program, $2,000 to Park Place Church of God’s community center, and the rest to Aspire Indiana.

Since the fund was started in 2000, the fund has paid $43,632, according to Madison County Bar Association President John N. Shanks II.

“We were rather amazed there was this much to give this year given the economy,” he said.

Past award recipients have included Carl Erskine, Anderson native and famed pitcher of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, and his wife Betty; and retired Anderson attorney Richard F. Davisson. Each of the past winners has shown a tremendous commitment to their communities, Shanks said.

He added that honorees are solicited from the community through the Madison County Community Foundation.

“The biggest problem every year is deciding to whom the recognition goes. We’re blessed with so many people in Anderson who are so generous with their time,” he said.

Dickmann, who still practices law, was honored by the bar association in July for his 60 years of practice. He also remains active through other funds he has started.

“He gives new meaning to the term philanthropy. He’s very involved in the community,” Shanks said.

The event was also one of the first appearances made by the new president of the Indiana State Bar Association, Terre Haute attorney Jeffry Lind, who said he was happy to support this and other local and specialty bars around the state.